With only one returning starter, Devils Lake’s priority is defense.
“We’re a lot shorter, obviously,” said Ben Brodina, the tallest member of the starting five at 6-foot-2. “So we’ve got to play solid defense. Everyone helping, playing full-court. We’ve just got to be a team. We’ve got to play as a team.”
Devils Lake boys’ basketball has been to the state championship game in each of the last two seasons. Strong, physical players from those teams, like Oliver Wirth, Joel Nelson and Parker Brodina, have since graduated.
The Firebirds don’t have the same amount of size on this year’s squad.
“We’re going to try to run up and down. The trouble is, is we don’t have as much depth as I’d like right now,” Devils Lake head coach Dustin Brodina said. “So once we develop a little bit more guys, we’ll get up and down. But our goal is to play defense and stop guys, stop teams.”
It starts at the top with Devils Lake’s only returning starter, senior Mason Palmer.
Coach Brodina said he’s already seen a heightened level of leadership from Palmer.
“And not having to prove himself,” Brodina said. “Letting the game come to him. … His leadership, he’s stepping up. That’s what I’m really proud of.”
Palmer has accomplished a lot in his high school athletic career. About a month ago, he was the quarterback for Devils Lake’s first state football championship in school history. Just days before basketball season started, he announced his commitment to play college baseball at Jamestown.
Palmer is stronger, faster and better than he’s ever been.
And it’s led to increased confidence.
“Last year, we had a lot of great guys. And this year, I’m the only returning starter, so I’m going to keep my confidence and keep attacking and do what I do,” Palmer said. “Get my guys open and let them make their shots.”
On the court, Brodina said he’s liked the balance Palmer has shown between sharing the ball and getting to the basket when the situation calls for it. Even in his 37-point performance to open the season, Palmer passed just as well as he shot.
He essentially commandeers the team as the point guard. And he’s comfortable getting inside or shooting from beyond the arc.
“He’s a fantastic basketball player,” Brodina said. “He’s really getting everybody to buy into it, not only on the offensive end, but the defensive end.”
Around Palmer, he has three fellow seniors starting with him: twin brother Max Palmer, in addition to Bryar Exner and Kade Fee.
Mason’s familiarity with those three has eased the transition a little bit.
“We just know what we do,” Mason said. “We work hard for each other. We play great team defense.”
Like Mason, the other three senior starters were key players on the state champion football team.
Exner and Fee, each listed at six feet, are the two primary forwards. Both are strong athletes who rebound and defend well. In the Firebirds’ season opener, though, neither found the points column.
“They’re going to step up. It’s just a confidence level,” Brodina said. “It’s a fast game, too. And I think their football legs are a little tired on them. But they’ll get their legs under and they’re going to be just fine. Their confidence is going to get there.”
Exner got going in the second game of the season, a win over Jamestown. He scored 15 points. Max Palmer also found his shooting rhythm, scoring 28 points after just four in the first game.
Ben, the youngest Brodina, has been another boost to the offense. Despite limited varsity time before this season, he’s come onto the scene nicely. He totaled 29 points in his first two varsity starts.
The first guy off the bench is junior forward Talan Gregory. He might get the most miles under him of anyone this year, with substantial minutes on both junior varsity and varsity.
Coach Brodina is also looking for players like Alex Hammond, Egan Laite, Casey Brown and Miguel Dunn to develop and help the team out.
“All those guys are going to step up at some point,” Brodina said. “And hopefully we don’t have any injuries. But those guys will [step up]. They’ve just got to catch up to the speed of the game a little bit. But they’ll get there.”
Gregory and Laite were the backup quarterback and running back, respectively, on the football team. Both are listed at 6-foot-1. Brown made all-state as a lineman and stands at 6-foot-5.
“That actually gives us a little bit of size when those guys come in, a little bit more length,” Brodina said. “But they’ll get there, and hopefully by the end of the season, we’re running seven, eight, and we can trust in those other guys, too.”
Devils Lake will try its best to compete with this new-look group in a region that always proves tough. The Firebirds were ranked No. 3 in the preseason Class A poll, while Four Winds/Minnewaukan is right behind them at No. 4. Grafton also received votes. Thompson is another opponent that’s typically tough.
The region also has two new additions this year, with May-Port-C-G and Harvey/Wells County being promoted from Class B.
“This is the toughest region,” Brodina said. “And I think I said it the last three years. The balance from top to bottom — and there really is no bottom, as far as I’m concerned. You can’t take a night off. These teams, they’re tough. They’re physical. There’s some really tall kids, and there’s fantastic coaches. So anytime you have a combination of all that, you’ve gotta bring it every night. So it’s going to be tough. It’s going to be tough to come out of this region. And hopefully we’re lucky to be doing that.”
Devils Lake has finished first and second, respectively, at state in each of the first two seasons of the three-class system. The standards are high.
And despite losing so many players from those years, the goal remains unchanged.
“We want to be playing that last Saturday of the season,” Brodina said. “And the only way to do that is to stop teams night in and night out, and be strong defensively, and be able to defend.”
